small bush axe?

DrivebyTrucker said:
I'm not so sure. I don't usually carry an axe as they even the Fiskar and Gerber are just to bulky; heavy to. Not very heavy, but every pound counts. If I did bring it then something would have to stay as there is no point in dragging to much weight into the woods. Well I've been looking into some Swamp Rats and I think I found what I was looking for in a field Axe. Only problem is it might be a year until they release another one:( http://216.69.138.190/greenratchet.htm This Ratchet by Swamp Rat seems to be a good compromise between A heavy beast of an Axe from Striker And a light weight sissy axe from Fiskar or Gerber .
Click to expand...


What is the weight on the Swamp Rat hatchet?
 
wassup-666584.gif
13oz

"This is pretty much useless. Yep, i'm shooting straight and being honest. As much as i like it, i realized when i pulled it from the box, that as a "tool", it would be better suited as a door stop or something. Paperweight maybe.
"
 
Last edited:
My GB mini went 12.8 oz. (with sheath) on the company postal scale, so that's a draw with the Rat.

DancesWithKnives
 
DWK2 said:
My GB mini went 12.8 oz. (with sheath) on the company postal scale, so that's a draw with the Rat.

DancesWithKnives
Click to expand...

At the risk of being a pedant; that aint a draw dude, they just happen to weigh about the same ;-)
 
"This is pretty much useless. Yep, i'm shooting straight and being honest. As much as i like it, i realized when i pulled it from the box, that as a "tool", it would be better suited as a door stop or something. Paperweight maybe.
"[/QUOTE]

Thanks for posting the link. At 13oz it's light, but if it can't chop then it ain't worth a crap.

DWK2 My GB mini went 12.8 oz. (with sheath) on the company postal scale, so that's a draw with the Rat.

Seems to be the best choice so far. I wonder what my Mini Gerber weighs? I have it with me but no scale:( I find 12.8 oz to be incredibly light for an good axe with a wooden handle. I think my Leatherman Wave weighs more then that or close to it. Still it's a shame you can't get a GB Mini axe with a hollow plastic handle. It would lighten the Axe; but would it weaken it's chopping ability? A wood handle is fine I suppose. Who am I to question a well proven design. Still There must be more great pack axes out there I'm hoping someone will post up something other then there Gerber or Fiskars (there the same thing, I'm looking at the back of my Gerber right now and it says FISKARS FINLAND). And the GB mini is cool as well as the other ones posted up from Striker and Swamp. Still I want to see more designs. I am not happy with my Gerber it's as useless as that reviewed Swamp Ratchet. Hopefully something will come up that will fit my needs.
 
baldtaco-II,

I acknowledge that my internet language usage is pretty loose, but the definition of "draw" as "a contest ending in a tie" does a reasonably good job of describing the result of comparing the weight of the two tools. Some of the posts I read are barely comprehensible, so I don't feel too bad about that one.

DancesWithKnives
 
DocArnie said:
What makes your Gerber useless? Useless for what? Do you have the short or the long version? I didn't get what you mean.
Click to expand...

Very well I will explain. A mini review. First the sheath is terrible. On my right hip the blade faces to the rear; with the handle pointing down. Due to the design of the flat, I need both hands to unsheathe my Axe. That makes it useless if needed for self defense:thumbdn:. Of course you can always buy another sheathe. Next chopping ability. Here in the Western U.S. we have mostly soft woods. I find the chopping ability of my Gerber to be less effective then a strong kick, resting my weight on a branch, or just using a big rock to break branch whether it's on a tree or found on the ground. The Gerber just bounces off small branches and therefore see's very little use. So as a chopper it does very poorly and hardly worth carrying. If it's less effective then a kick or gloved hands, then it's useless and not worth the extra weight. But I am confident that something better exist out there. Maybe in the end I won't carry a hatchet and instead carry a large fixed blade that can chop and cut.
 
DWK2 said:
baldtaco-II,

I acknowledge that my internet language usage is pretty loose, but the definition of "draw" as "a contest ending in a tie" does a reasonably good job of describing the result of comparing the weight of the two tools. Some of the posts I read are barely comprehensible, so I don't feel too bad about that one.

DancesWithKnives
Click to expand...

I was being glib about the disparity in functionality despite having approximately the same weight. I'm not very good at writing comedy, sorry.
 
I recently bought a Vaughan Subzero, its 11 inches long and only weighs 10 ounces (total)!
vaughanandgerber.jpg

I tested it last week and it is an excellent little mini-chopper.
Like most axes though it needs a little file work/reprofiling to reach its potential.
The handle on mine was not aligned properly with the head but i fixed that by reshaping the handle.
The Vaughan is roughly the same size as the Gransfors but only costs 20-30$.
Heres a good articles on the GB and Vaughan
"The Tiny Pocket Hatchet - And How To Get One"
http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/tinyhatchets.html
 
DrivebyTrucker said:
If it's less effective then a kick or gloved hands, then it's useless and not worth the extra weight.
Click to expand...

I think you're simply not using it right. No offence.
I can only speak for the Fiskars 600 (still don't know if that's the one you have), but it chops through branches with ease and when I grab it close to the head, I can use it to carve of the bark with no effort in comparison to a knife. Just keep it sharp!
 
It's the same black Gerber in Tholiver's pick. Your right about being great for effortlessly carving bark. Much better the most knives for the job. As far as chopping goes I noticed our locations have much different forest. The Softwoods here are very different. They are very dry and easier to snap with gloved hands or body weight then what I find in Hardwood forest such as what you have in Germany. They also bend well and provide bounce from impacts; making it difficult to use my axe to chop through. A machete that can take it with one strike could be more useful. I may bring both next time for a test. Really I get by fine without an axe. Just drop a match anywhere and you have fire. Our forest are notoriously dry and we are plagued everywhere with numerous forest fires. I only bring an axe just to have one. Here is a link to a test for the GB Axe http://knifetests.com/GransforsBruksMiniAxeDtest.html It did well
The Busse performed very well http://knifetests.com/BussefFFBMtestpage.html
And the Gerber hatchet did the best against two knives and a Kurkri
http://knifetests.com/ChoppingShootout.html
 
The 14 inch Fiskars has the exact same head as the Gerber Backpaxe.
But the longer handle on the Fiskars makes it substantially more useful.
I use the 14 inch Fiskars the most of all my axes.
For me the balance was all wrong in the Gerber, but thats was mostly because the handle is just too short.
The only advantage to the Backpaxe is that it is short enough to fit easily in my toolbox, where it has resided since i bought the 14 inch Fiskars.
 
Probably not what the thread is really about but reading through here inspired me to make this. Not really very functional but fun anyway.

I'm planning on making some sort of kydex neck sheath for it. I figured it is still big enough to use for SOMETHING. I mean after all, it is sharp.

CPM154-CM with mammoth ivory handle.

SDS
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0532.jpg
    IMG_0532.jpg
    44 KB · Views: 6
  • IMG_0530.jpg
    IMG_0530.jpg
    48 KB · Views: 5
  • IMG_0529.jpg
    IMG_0529.jpg
    30 KB · Views: 3
  • IMG_0533.jpg
    IMG_0533.jpg
    25.5 KB · Views: 4
  • IMG_0534.jpg
    IMG_0534.jpg
    47.8 KB · Views: 11
Last edited:
dont forget about the times tested and true ESTWING leather handled sportsman hatchet, mine is a trusted small hatchet in the woods!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top